Shelton Aldermen accepts $ 1.3 million loan to purchase fire trucks
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SHELTON – The Shelton Fire Department may soon be outfitted with new trucks.
The council of aldermen on Tuesday approved a loan of up to $ 1.35 million from Newtown Savings Bank to purchase fire trucks and equipment.
As the city and department continue to assess needs, Mayor Mark Lauretti said he plans to purchase two new trucks perhaps in the next 60 to 90 days.
Deputy Fire Chief Paul Wilson said the department hopes to replace the Echo Hose Hook and Ladder Company 1 tower truck.
Wilson said the current tower is a 1996 95-foot KME platform tower that has “suffered a number of significant mechanical failures over the past five years.
“The new tower that the department is looking to purchase is a 2020 Pierce Accendant with a 100-foot platform,” Wilson said. “This truck is a demonstration and is used by the manufacturer to show departments what their product can do. Because this is a demo and not a “custom truck,” the price is significantly lower than where it normally has a starting price of around $ 1.5 million. “
Lauretti said the ministry’s tower truck and tank truck are over 25 years old and need to be replaced.
The pandemic has left a large surplus of fire trucks in the market, Lauretti said, which works in the city’s favor to find cheaper equipment.
“We’re going to take advantage of it,” Lauretti said.
The mayor also said the savings came from taking a bank loan by the city, rather than the surety, which can add $ 100,000 for legal fees. Lauretti said the city’s proposed bank loan would be paid off in five years, rather than a traditional 20-year note.
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